Predators feeling good after Global Series sweep, memorable European trip

PRAGUE -- As the Nashville Predators walked off the ice at O2 Arena on Saturday, they danced to the victory song blaring from their locker room: "I'm Good (Blue)" by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha.

"I'm good. Yeah, I'm feeling all right …"
Yeah, they should be feeling all right. This was no European vacation, but no one has had more fun overseas since the Griswolds.
The Predators opened the regular season by sweeping the San Jose Sharks in the 2022 NHL Global Series, winning 4-1 on Friday and
3-2 on Saturday
in Prague. They received big contributions from new additions: forwards Nino Niederreiter and Kiefer Sherwood, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, and goalie Kevin Lankinen.
And that was just part of it. Asked what he would remember years from now from this experience on and off the ice, Predators center Ryan Johansen thought for a moment.
"Oh, off the ice, it's the pilsners in Prague," he said. "On the ice?"
RELATED: [Complete coverage of 2022 NHL Global Series, Czech Republic]
Johansen mentioned the reception Niederreiter and defenseman Roman Josi received in Bern, Switzerland, Josi's hometown, where the Predators defeated SC Bern 4-3 in an exhibition on Monday in the 2022 NHL Global Series Challenge.
But he also mentioned the reception Sharks center Tomas Hertl received in Prague, his hometown, when he was introduced before each game and after he scored on Friday.
"Overall, it's just the whole event," Johansen said. "The NHL did a great job. Every day there was something fun and exciting."
When NHL teams travel overseas, one of the benefits is team bonding. The players spend a lot of time together on flights, at meals and at the rink. That's especially important for a team like Nashville, which acquired McDonagh in a trade and signed Niederreiter, Lankinen and Sherwood as unrestricted free agents in the offseason.
The Predators left home Oct. 1 and had a team dinner that night. They practiced in Bern on Sunday, and afterward, they took extra time for a youth clinic. Kids got to go one-on-one with Josi, who grew up less than three kilometers from PostFinance Arena and rose to play for SC Bern before coming to North America. They held another team dinner, this time at a restaurant overlooking the picturesque city.

Josi was the first star in the exhibition Monday with two goals and an assist, and he and Niederreiter, who grew up in Chur, Switzerland, were welcomed home by the fans. Each had family and friends in the stands who rarely got to see them play live and some who had never gotten to see them play live as professionals, including their grandmothers.
Between a workout and their flight to Prague on Tuesday, Josi and Niederreiter found time to visit children in a local hospital, which happened to be the same hospital in which Josi was born.
"Just watching the ovation that those boys got in Bern was outstanding and just special," Predators center Matt Duchene said. "Seeing the emotion that 'Jos' had. He's got a big heart, and he's an emotional guy in a really great way. Things mean a lot to him, and to see that was awesome."
The Predators had Wednesday off to explore Prague, practiced in front of a few thousand fans Thursday, and then earned back-to-back wins Friday and Saturday.
Sherwood was the first star Friday with a goal and an assist. McDonagh had an assist Friday and a blocked shot that saved a goal Saturday. Niederreiter had three goals in two games, including the game-winner Saturday. Lankinen got his first win for the Predators on Saturday, making 31 saves, including 15 in the third period.
"I think all those guys, they put in the work this summer," said Johansen, who has played for the Predators since 2015-16. "They came ready to go, and then they've jelled with this group quickly. As teammates and older guys, we've put a lot of trust and effort in making sure they're ready to go and comfortable and confident, and it looked like to me they went out there and played their best games, and the result of that is two wins."
Lankinen credited the leadership group.
"Quite honestly, they have a great core group of guys, and they made us feel so welcome here right from the get-go," he said. "We've been doing dinners, we've been having team stuff a bunch of times, and it makes the team glue together."

It's only two games, but it's a heck of a start. The Predators fly home Sunday, and they'll have a chance to recharge for their next game, against the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.
Johansen said they definitely gained confidence.
They're good, and yeah, they're feeling all right.
"Obviously, there's so much work to do," Johansen said. "We've got 80 games left. But we should definitely feel pretty good about ourselves and know that when we're doing the right things on the ice, we can be a successful team and create a lot of trouble for the opposition."